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BRICS Summit 2026 Live Updates: PM Modi meets 15 world leaders on sidelines of BRICS Summit

In an address at the BRICS summit, PM Modi also flagged serious concerns over the 'weaponisation of technology and critical minerals', saying it could hinder shared progress and prosperity.

ModiPrime Minister Narendra Modi poses for a photo with world leaders at Bharat Mandapam on Day 2 of the BRICS Summit 2026, in New Delhi on Sunday. (DD News/ANI Video Grab)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held 15 sit-down bilateral meetings with heads of states or heads of governments in the last three days on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.

In addition to these bilateral deliberations, the prime minister also had pull-aside meetings with various world leaders and leaders of international institutions.

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The leaders with whom Modi had the bilateral meetings included Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Modi also had bilateral meetings with his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, Vietnamese counterpart Le Minh Hung, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Philippines Ferdinand R Marcos Jr and Uganda’s Vice President Jessica Alupo, besides others.

Xi, Putin depart from Delhi: Chinese President XI Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders departed from New Delhi after concluding the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sunday. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing BRICS leaders at Bharat Mandapam on Sunday, flagged weaponisation of technology and critical minerals, inclusivity in technology and resilience amid global conflict. The Prime Minister said that increasing geopolitical tensions are adversely impacting ordinary lives globally, emphasising that BRICS must unite to address these challenges and drive inclusive growth, particularly across the Global South.

PM Modi was speaking in front of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also set to hold a series of bilateral meetings with leaders from South Africa, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Egypt and Burundi, Uganda and Nigeria.

On Saturday, the BRICS grouping adopted the New Delhi Declaration, laying out common positions on issues ranging from trade and terrorism to artificial intelligence and institutional reform. The group expressed concern over rising tensions and condemned the use of tariffs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held a gala dinner for the leaders of the BRICS nations yesterday. Apart from the leaders of the participating countries, union ministers and the chief ministers of several states were also present. Notable absentees included Chinese President Xi Jinping and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed.

Live Updates
Sep 13, 2026 08:59 PM IST
BJP imposing 'deeply problematic' dietary preferences on foreign dignitaries: Congress

A day after an all-vegetarian spread was served at a BRICS Summit gala dinner, the Congress on Sunday said the BJP is now imposing its "deeply problematic" dietary preferences on dignitaries from across the world, with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi pointing out that 80 per cent of Indians are non-vegetarian.

In a post on social media platforms X, Facebook and Instagram, Gandhi wrote, "For the record: 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian. Indian non-vegetarian food is delicious. As are my sister's chole bhature." He also posted a picture of chole bhature on a dining table.

While Gandhi made no direct reference to the BRICS dinner, Congress's media and publicity department head Pawan Khera shared the screenshot of the menu from the dinner and attacked the BJP.

"The BJP's habit of imposing its dietary preferences on fellow Indians is already deeply problematic. Now, they have taken it a step further by imposing their own choices on dignitaries from across the world," Khera said on X.

Sep 13, 2026 07:26 PM IST
Iranian president says he held good talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, 'agreed to put past aside'

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that he had held good talks ⁠with ​Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin ​Mohamed bin ​Zayed Al ⁠Nahyan in New Delhi on ‌the sidelines of the BRICS leaders' summit, adding that the two ⁠sides ⁠had agreed to put ⁠the past ‌behind ​them.

"We agreed ‌to put the past ‌aside ​and ​look ​forward to the future, and ​how we can ⁠build a future together," Pezeshkian said.

Sep 13, 2026 06:38 PM IST
PM Modi meets 15 world leaders on BRICS sidelines

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held 15 sit-down bilateral meetings with heads of states or heads of governments in the last three days on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, news agency PTI reported.

Government sources told PTI that in addition to these bilateral deliberations, the prime minister also had pull-aside meetings with various world leaders and leaders of international institutions.

The leaders with whom Modi had the bilateral meetings included Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Modi also had bilateral meetings with his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, Vietnamese counterpart Le Minh Hung, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Philippines Ferdinand R Marcos Jr and Uganda's Vice President Jessica Alupo, besides others.

Sep 13, 2026 04:08 PM IST
Rijiju hits back at Rahul Gandhi over BRICS dinner menu remarks

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after the latter pointed out that 80 per cent of Indians are non-vegetarian and praised Indian non-vegetarian food following the all-vegetarian BRICS gala dinner.

“I can't believe that Congress party is making politics even on the food menu served to the leaders of BRICS nations,” Rijiju said in a social media post. He defended the vegetarian spread, saying the visiting leaders had enjoyed Indian vegetarian cuisine, which was rich in flavour and nutritional variety and reflected diverse regional traditions.

Sep 13, 2026 03:03 PM IST
Rahul Gandhi weighs in on BRICS vegetarian feast: ‘80% Indians are non-vegetarian’

A day after an elaborate all-vegetarian dinner was served to BRICS leaders and delegates in New Delhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that most Indians eat non-vegetarian food and praised Indian cuisine.

“For the record: 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian. Indian non-vegetarian food is delicious. As are my sister's chole bhature,” Gandhi said in a social media post, accompanying it with a picture of chole bhature. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hosted the BRICS er at Bharat Mandapam on Saturday, where guests were served dishes including paneer, mushroom kebabs, millet pulao, jalebi and phirni.

(PTI)

Sep 13, 2026 02:14 PM IST
'80% of Indians are non-vegetarian': Rahul Gandhi's jibe at vegetarian menu at BRICS Summit

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday weighed in on the vegetarian dishes served to world leaders at the BRICS Summit. In a post on X, Gandhi said 80 per cent of Indians were non-vegetarian.

"For the record: 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian. Indian non-vegetarian food is delicious. As are my sister's chole bhature," the Congress leader said on X, sharing a picture of chole bhature.

For the record: 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian.

Indian non-vegetarian food is delicious. As are my sister's chole bhature. pic.twitter.com/8f6ziKjLan
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 13, 2026
Sep 13, 2026 02:05 PM IST
BRICS must play greater role in building balanced, inclusive international order: Iran President

Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian said BRICS must play a greater role in building a "more balanced, inclusive and just international order". In a statement, the Iranian Embassy in India said, "Pezeshkian thanked the Government and people of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for hosting the summit, saying its theme — “Resilience, Cooperation and Sustainability” — reflected fundamental global needs at a time when the destinies of nations are increasingly interconnected. He said the international community’s challenge was not merely to manage current crises, but to build a system that strengthens nations against future crises and creates a fairer world."

Sep 13, 2026 02:02 PM IST
PM Modi holds bilateral meeting with Egypt President El-Sisi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held a bilateral meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during his visit to New Delhi to attend the BRICS Summit. India and Egypt have strong bilateral ties, which date back to diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level established on August 18, 1947. Egypt became a full member of the BRICS alongside Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE in January 2024. During the Delhi visit, the Egyptian leader also met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines on Saturday.

Sep 13, 2026 01:47 PM IST
Putin leaves India after BRICS Summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin left India on Sunday after participating in BRICS Summit. The Russian Embassy in New Delhi shared a video of Putin embarking on his plane upon wrapping his India trip.

Sep 13, 2026 01:22 PM IST
Ethiopian PM departs from New Delhi after attending BRICS Summit

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali has departed from New Delhi after attending the 18th BRICS Summit.

Sep 13, 2026 01:14 PM IST
Chinese President Xi Jinping departs from New Delhi after attending two-day BRICS Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday departed from New Delhi after participating in the two-day BRICS Summit chaired by India. Xi Jinping attended the BRICS Session spanned two days, at Bharat Mandapam, the venue for the summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chinese President also held a bilateral meeting, strengthening the bilateral ties between the two neighbouring countries. During the meeting, Xi Jinping said China and India should view their bilateral ties from a strategic perspective, keeping in mind the long-term development of relations.

Sep 13, 2026 11:56 AM IST
PM Modi warns against weaponisation of technology, critical minerals

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said increasing geopolitical tensions are adversely impacting ordinary lives globally and emphasised that BRICS must unite to address these challenges and drive inclusive growth, particularly across the Global South. He also flagged serious concerns over the "weaponisation of technology and critical minerals", saying it could hinder shared progress and prosperity.

"Under India's presidency, we have focused our efforts on four pillars: resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability. I am pleased that, with your cooperation and support, we have been able to transform our shared vision into a win-win situation," he said.

Sep 13, 2026 11:49 AM IST
Global South must turn 'pyramid of privilege' into 'platform of partnership': PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised that the Global South must turn the "pyramid of privilege" into a "platform of partnership" as the region is in the front row of global crises, but the back row of decision-making, the Ministry of External Affairs stated. On Saturday, PM Modi chaired the BRICS session on "Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism" during the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi and stressed that "global governance must reflect today" realities, with greater representation especially in institutions such as the UN Security Council. He said that efforts must be made to make the Global South move from being a rule-taker to a rule-shaper. Through BRICS, we can provide young diplomats and policymakers from the Global South with negotiation skills, practical training and legal expertise.

Sep 13, 2026 11:41 AM IST
Rahul Gandhi meets Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim for breakfast meeting on sidelines of BRICS Summit

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi held a breakfast meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also joined the meeting. Visuals shared by the party capture the leaders engaged in warm conversations around the breakfast table, alongside a moment showing Rahul Gandhi shaking hands with Prime Minister Ibrahim and sharing smiles.

Sep 13, 2026 11:21 AM IST
Rising tensions have negative impact on lives of ordinary people: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said rising tensions in the world are having a significant negative impact on lives of ordinary people. PM Modi said a consensus has been reached on BRICS Early Warning System for prevention and response to infectious diseases. He further said that confidence of Global South in the BRICS has increased.

Sep 13, 2026 11:03 AM IST
PM Modi poses for group photo with world leaders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses for a group photo with world leaders at Bharat Mandapam on Day 2 of the BRICS Summit.

Sep 13, 2026 11:01 AM IST
PM Modi addresses BRICS leaders on Day 2 of summit

Addressing BRICS leaders on Day 2 of the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for inclusivity of technology and resilience in global supply network.

Sep 13, 2026 10:51 AM IST
PM Modi welcomes world leaders at Bharat Mandapam ahead of session on inclusive global growth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed world leaders at Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi ahead of the open session titled "Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth". PM Modi welcomed Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Vietnamese PM Le Minh Hung, President of Burundi Evariste Ndayishimiye, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uganda Vice President Jessica Alupo with a warm handshake.

The leaders will take part in the open session on Sunday, which will focus on the core pillars of the central theme, namely resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. The session is being held at the Summit Hall inside Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

Sep 13, 2026 10:15 AM IST
BRICS leaders arrive for session on global growth

World leaders have started arriving at Bharat Mandapam for the BRICS' open session on Sunday. The session will focus on the core pillars of the central theme, namely resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.

The session, titled 'Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth', will be held at the Summit Hall inside Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

Sep 13, 2026 10:09 AM IST
Malaysian PM sings evergreen Kishore Kumar song at Delhi hotel: Video

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is in India for BRICS Summit, was seen singing Kishore Kumar’s popular song “Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat”. PM Ibrahim, who has often made headlines for singing Bollywood classics, was seen singing the song from the 1965 film Teen Deviyan at a Delhi hotel. Sharing the video on X, PM Ibrahim wrote, “Guru asking permission to sing for a bit, okay!”

Sep 13, 2026 09:55 AM IST
PM Modi holds hands with Putin and Xi: Unmissable photos from BRICS Summit

From Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warm camaraderie with world leaders to high-stakes bilateral meetings and cultural engagements on the sidelines, these photographs capture the key highlights of the expanded BRICS gathering at Bharat Mandapam.

Sep 13, 2026 09:41 AM IST
PM Modi to hold bilateral meetings with leaders from 7 nations

The second day of BRICS Summit will see participation of BRICS Member and Partner in an open session with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the final day of the summit, the prime minister is also set to hold bilateral meetings with leaders from seven countries on Sunday. PM Modi is scheduled to meet with leaders of South Africa, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Egypt and Burundi, Uganda and Nigeria on Sunday.

Sep 13, 2026 09:22 AM IST
Kiren Rijiju shares video of union ministers, CMs attending BRICS dinner

Several chief ministers, along with Union Ministers and chief ministers of various states, attended the gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for BRICS leaders and delegates at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Saturday. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju also shared glimpses of the gathering and said India was proud to host the BRICS Summit.

Sep 13, 2026 09:01 AM IST
BRICS leaders to hold open session on 'Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'

The second day of the BRICS Summit will see leaders hold an open session on Sunday focusing on key areas like resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. The session, titled "Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth", will be held at the Summit Hall inside Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The open session is part of the two-day BRICS Summit being hosted by India on September 12-13.

The picture below shows Bharat Mandapam, the site of the BRICS Summit, in New Delhi. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)

Sep 13, 2026 08:55 AM IST
BRICS' pushback against unilateral tariffs and restrictive trade measures

Amid the backdrop of tariffs, trade tensions, and geopolitical fragmentation, BRICS leaders expressed its opposition to unilateral trade restrictions amid efforts to ease cross-border payments and investments across BRICS countries. Since early 2025, US President Donald Trump has announced a series of escalating tariffs against several US trading partners to extract concessions from them and correct a perceived imbalance — and “return” money — to the US. The declaration expresses its condemnation of “unilateral coercive measures” which are contrary to international law and the United Nations Charter, and calls for their elimination. Read full story

Sep 13, 2026 08:40 AM IST
Why BRICS Summit is significant this year

The BRICS Summit, being hosted in New Delhi, is being held in the backdrop of tariffs, trade tensions, and geopolitical fragmentation. While India and China have taken steps to ease their strained ties after border standoff in 2020, several global challenges, including the West Asia conflict and its resultant threat on oil trade, Ukraine War, US tariffs and geopolitical fragmentation.

To be sure, the participation of Iran and the UAE, in whose region the American military bases have been target of Tehran's strikes during the ongoing conflict, was one of the highlights of the summit. Iran President Pezeshkian also met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.

In the New Delhi joint declaration, released on Saturday, the BRICS leaders expressed “deep concern” over the escalation of tensions across West Asia and calls for maximum restraint and the resolution of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.

Sep 13, 2026 08:26 AM IST
What is BRICS and why does it matters

The BRICS is a group of emerging economies founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010.

In fact, the term BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. In the past years, the group has expanded to 11 members, representing about half the world’s population and a significant share of global economic output. In 2024, BRICS admitted four new members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

Essentially, BRICS has been envisaged as a grouping of non-Western countries, which can act as a counterweight to institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, dominated by the Global North. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the grouping now represents 40% of the global GDP and 25% of trade.

Sep 13, 2026 08:15 AM IST
Tibetans protesting Xi Jinping's India visit detained near Pragati Maidan

At least five Tibetan nationals have been detained near Pragati Maidan, the site of BRICS Summit, on Friday morning over protest against the Chinese President's New Delhi visit, news agency PTI reported, citing Delhi Police sources.

Sep 13, 2026 08:10 AM IST
BRICS Summit Day 2: What to expect today

The BRICS Summit will resume for the final day on Sunday with the leaders of the member nations participating in a group photo and a session on “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth”.

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